A suspected deadly hantavirus outbreak has left the MV Hondius stranded off Cape Verde, with 149 passengers waiting at sea and two people reportedly in urgent need of care.
Cape Verde refused to allow the hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius to dock at the Port of Praia after several suspected infections raised serious public health concerns,NBC News reported. The decision has left those still on board facing strict precautionary measures, including isolation and medical monitoring, while authorities assess how to protect both passengers and the wider public.
The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, had been travelling from Argentina towards the Canary Islands when the crisis deepened. It was carrying people from 23 countries, including 17 Americans, while two crew members — one British and one Dutch — were reported to need urgent medical care on board. Cape Verde's refusal to let the vessel dock at Praia was described as a precautionary move. The authorities faced a difficult choice: allow a vessel linked to a suspected deadly outbreak into port, or keep it offshore while medical plans were arranged.
For the 149 passengersreportedto be stranded at sea, that decision has turned a long-distance cruise into a tense wait for answers. They remain under health measures designed to prevent any possible spread, even as the World Health Organization has stressed that the risk to the wider public is low.
Oceanwide Expeditions said the ship may sail on to Las Palmas or Tenerife in the Canary Islands if docking in Cape Verde is not possible. That would mean more uncertainty for those on board, especially for passengers who are waiting to disembark, return home or receive clearer guidance from health officials.
The suspected outbreak has already been linked to three deaths. Two of the victims were a Dutch married couple. A 70-year-old man died on board in April, while his 69-year-old wife later collapsed at Johannesburg's international airport while trying to return home. A German national was also reported to have died, though the official cause of death had not been confirmed in the initial reports.
One confirmed hantavirus case involves a British national who was hospitalised in Johannesburg, South Africa, in critical condition. The remaining cases are being treated as suspected while investigations continue.
The two people reported seriously ill on board were crew members who required urgent care. The WHO was assisting with medical evacuation planning, while Cape Verde officials said an air ambulance was being prepared if needed.
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The WHO has tried to calm fearsaround the MV Hondius outbreak, saying the wider public risk remains low. Dr Hans Henri P Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, said there was 'no need for panic or travel restrictions' while health teams worked on a science-based response.
Source: International Business Times UK
